In January, the Federal Office for Armaments (armasuisse) handed over the first two of the six reconnaissance drones and the material needed for flight operations to the Swiss Air Force. The military aviation authority has issued the necessary certification.
This means that the Air Force can now start building up the operational capabilities for the Hermes 900 HFE drones (also known as ADS 15) reconnaissance drone system. The remaining drones will be handed over by the end of 2023.
As early as December 2022, the military aviation authority MAA issued the type approval for the airworthiness of the reconnaissance drone system (ADS 15). The approval came after intensive ground and flight tests with the two drones that have already been delivered to Switzerland. With these tests, the airworthiness of the ADS 15 could be checked in conjunction with the Swiss infrastructure.
Luftwaffe can build operational capabilities
The drones with the registration D-11 and D-14 and associated material such as ground control stations, sensors as well as logistics and training material have now been handed over to the Air Force. This allows the Air Force to begin building operational capabilities on the new system and gain experience step by step; In addition to flight practice, this also includes support and logistics services or interoperability with the other systems of the army.
Delivery of the remaining drones by the end of 2023
In October 2022, the third drone (registration D-16) arrived in Switzerland from Israel. Since then, the drone has undergone various tests. It is also to be handed over to the Air Force by mid-2023. At the same time, armasuisse, in cooperation with the supplier Elbit, will test further system elements and, after testing in Israel, will release them for transport to Switzerland.
The remaining three drones are expected to be delivered by the end of 2023. In addition, there are two ground control stations, sensors and logistics material. After receiving the material, the Air Force will first roll out the professional organization on the system so that it will have the capabilities to use the drones operationally by mid-2024. After that, the militia officers of Drone Squadron 7 will also be retrained on the system.
Contractual penalties and additional services due to delays
Due to a project delay, armasuisse imposed contractual penalties on the manufacturer Elbit. In addition, additional services in favor of Switzerland were negotiated with Elbit in contract negotiations, such as the certification of the de-icing system.
Reconnaissance Drone System 15 (ADS 15)
The ADS 15 is an unmanned and unarmed reconnaissance system. It will replace the 95 reconnaissance drone system used in the army until the end of 2019, which corresponded to the technology level of the 1980s. The intended useful life of the ADS 15 is 20 years. The drone is used for position and target reconnaissance, but can be equipped with other sensors if required, for example for imaging radar to generate an image of the ground situation or for electronic reconnaissance. The drone system can be used day and night.
The following services can be provided with the ADS 15:
- Surveillance of large spaces
- Search, reconnaissance and pursuit of targets
- Contributions to the situation picture and to the protection of critical infrastructures as well as one’s own forces
As with the previous ADS 95 system, the users are military and civil authorities such as cantonal management staffs, police and rescue services or the border guard corps.
When defending against a military attack, the ADS 15 contributes to the command and control of actions on the ground, especially for fire support. The procurement includes six drones including ground components, simulator and logistics.
Top Photo: Militärflugplatz Emmen
Source: Press Release